RNC Pushes Back Presidential Primaries

[babylonsister]

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/08/06/rnc_pushes_back_presidential_primaries.html

RNC Pushes Back Presidential Primaries


The RNC "has approved a resolution making dramatic changes to the way the GOP picks a presidential nominee, moving primaries to later dates and requiring states to allocate their delegates on a proportional basis," The Hotline reports.

"The proposal will move the earliest nominating contests -- in IA, NH, SC and NV -- back from early Jan. to Feb. It will also require states that hold nominating contests in March to award delegates based on the proportion of votes candidates win, eliminating the prospect of an early winner-take-all state that would effectively end the nominating process."

Meanwhile, the St. Petersburg Times reports the 2012 Republican National Convention will be held in Tampa.

[TheBigotBasher]

1. The machine

does not want Bible Spice to win the early States.

It will also require states that hold nominating contests in March to award delegates based on the proportion of votes candidates win, eliminating the prospect of an early winner-take-all state that would effectively end the nominating process.

[The Magistrate]

3. And The Gentleman Gets The Seegar, Folks! You have Nailed It In One, Sir

[B Calm]

2. More time, more money. . .

[babylonsister]

5. Actually, less exposure while they try to get their

pitiful acts together.

[safeinOhio]

4. Waiting on

the "great white hope".

[tanyev]

6. When they've already got the Great White Dope?

[red red red]

17. You made my day...

the Great White Dope :rofl: Thanks (and love the pic)

[ThomWV]

7. So, they had to go that far south to find a friendly town to Convene in?

[starroute]

12. Florida at the peak of hurricane season?

Whose bright idea was that?

[OmahaBlueDog]

8. Did you also see the change in fundraising rules?

I don't have a link, but in a nutshell, GOP candidates now have to sign a contract stating that they must support the Republican candidate, and that -- if they choose to run as independents -- they must return their prior campaign contributions. Ostensibly, this is to prevent a repeat of Crist in Florida. I suspect it's also to attempt to head off a potential T-bagger breakaway if they are unhappy with the ultimate Presidential nominee.

[sofa king]

9. It hadn't occured to me that they view the Nazis and Palin as a threat.

But they both are, now that I think of it. The very last thing the GOP wants or will tolerate is the ability of their followers to guide policy, and judging by her past performance, Sarah Palin is far too histrionic and ignorant to take direction from the Republican Party's true masters.

That means they're going to have to generate a lot of fear in the next two years, to get the lemmings back on the path, and find a double-right-wing authoritarian to lead them to safety. I haven't seen that guy--and it will be a guy--anywhere yet.

[OmahaBlueDog]

15. As evidenced in Florida with Rubio, is that there is such thing as "Too Far Right"

Their problem is Mitt Romney. Conventional wisdom is that they'd have had a much better shot at winning if he'd have been the nominee in 2008 instead of McCain. Many party strategists see him as a good bet in 2012. Romney could appeal not only to traditional Republicans, but also to weary, upper middle class independents.

But the baggers say he's not a real conservative, and the fundies don't like that he's LDS. They want Palin, or if not Palin then another fire brather, like Newt or Rick Perry.

Romney's raised a lot of money, and he has a lot of money in his own right. I think nightmare scenario #1 for the GOP is that Romney wins, and infuriated baggers leave and form a third party. That's not an idle threat. In many parts of the country, they could easily raise funds, and I could see several Senators and Congress members who could jump parties to join the new party.

GOP nightmare scenario #2 is that they nominate Palin, Newt, or Perry. The MSM paints the race as "Obama -- way out there on the left (untrue, but that'll be the spin), and Palin -- way out there on the right." That leaves open the possibility that I see - someone like Michael Bloomberg steps in to try to grab the center of the electorate.

[sofa king]

19. That's an interesting take.

I remember back in the run-up to the '96 election there was an early point where the money-watchers proclaimed that Phil Gramm had an unassailable lead. But Gramm also had problems with his credentials, being a former (Southern) Democrat... and maybe his brilliant Hawaiian wife didn't go over with the amen corner, either.

Whatever the case, all his money couldn't help him out paleo- Patrick Buchanan in the Louisiana primaries, and that was it for him. He wasn't the only one trying to buy his way into the White House that year.

It seems like the compromise between your nightmares #1 and #2 in 1996 was Bob Dole. But that also left open the door for Ross Perot, who sealed the deal for President Clinton.

Maybe 2012 will be the year for a third party candidate. I'd be willing to bet Sarah Palin could be drawn away pretty easily if she doesn't get a smoochie from the GOP.

[Born_A_Truman]

20. Mama Grizzly party?

[Wednesdays]

10. This is a way for their candidate to avoid scrutiny

By pushing back the primaries, there'll be less time for anyone to look into the candidate's past, etc., as well as nailing him/her down on specific issues. The religious right perfected the art of "stealth" candidates...and it seems the GOP at large has adopted that strategy as well.

[SnakeEyes]

13. Pushing back increases the time

the candidates will still be announcing intentions way too early as we've seen from both parties in recent elections. So this gives even more time for scrutiny before the first primaries.

[Froward69]

11. Obviously trying to shorten the time

to vet out candidates...

Imagine if Sara Palin gave her Speech at the RNC then Voting happened that next week? With a shorter time for the truth to come out on republicans the better chance they have to instill puppets... Like Sarah palin.

BTW Sat morning trolls are abound today. unreccing???

[SnakeEyes]

14. there is an additional month now

to vet candidates before the primaries begin. And proportional delegates means its going to take longer for a candidate to gain the delegates needed to win nomination so it prolongs the process and allows more time.

[Froward69]

18. um how is an additional month there when

elections come in November and instead of January... (10 months) it is February (9months) not to mention the time between the GOP convention and election day is shortened by three weeks.

longer time eh??

[IDemo]

16. Saruh is looking forward to the vetting -

[MilesColtrane]

21. The RNC is afraid of Palin winning the nomination.

because they know she would lose the general election handily